Apparatus for preventing whistling at hearing openings in helmets

ABSTRACT

A helmet is provided including a tab portion in which there are two hearing openings or ear holes. These ear holes are surrounded at least in part by an inclined surface which is located on the exterior of the helmet. The inclined surfaces are each of conical form. According to one embodiment, the inclined surfaces completely encircle the associated ear holes. According to another embodiment of the invention, the inclined surfaces merely extend forwardly and rearwardly of the ear holes. Each side of the helmet may be provided with a plurality of ear holes and related surfaces. Each ear hole is covered internally with a thin porous film, which is covered by a fabric.

United States Patent [1 1 Hori et al.

[ Dec. 18, 1973 [75] Inventors: Makoro Hori, Wako; Takenori Yamamoto,Fukuoka, both of Japan [73] Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo KabushikiKaisha, Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: May 25, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 256,916

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 31, 1971 Japan 46/44224 [52]US. Cl 2/3 R [51] Int. Cl A42b 3/00 [58] Field of Search 2/3, 5, 6, 172,209

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,714,275 5/1929 Mullins...2/3 R 2,898,596 8/1959 Keen 2/3 R 3,205,508 9/1965 Cox 2/172 X 2,140,63012/1938 lllguth 2/209 X 3,500,475 3/1970 Otsuka 2/3 R PrimaryExaminer-James R. Boler Attorney-Eric H. Waters et al.

57 ABSTRACT A helmet is provided including a tab portion in which thereare two hearing openings or ear holes. These ear holes are surrounded atleast in part by an inclined surface which is located on the exterior ofthe helmet. The inclined surfaces are each of conical form. According toone embodiment, the inclined surfaces completely encircle the associatedear holes. According to another embodiment of the invention, theinclined surfaces merely extend forwardly and rearwardly of the earholes. Each side of the helmet may be provided with a plurality of earholes and related surfaces. Each ear hole is covered internally with athin porous film, which is covered by a fabric.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING WHISTLING ATHEARING OPENINGS IN HELMETS BACKGROUND When a person wearing a helmetprovided with hearing openings or ear holes operates a vehicle such as amotorcycle or the like, it is usual that a whistling sound is generatedat the ear holes consistent with the speed of the vehicle beingoperated.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide animproved helmet adapted for use in connection with the operation ofvehicles and in which whistling sounds or the like are avoided.

To achieve the above and other objects of the invention, there isprovided a helmet which comprises at least one portion provided with anear hole surrounded at least in part by an inclined surface. Theinclined surface is located on the exterior of the helmet. This surfaceis of conical form. It may completely encircle the ear hole with whichit is associated, or it may extend forwardly and rearwardly of such earhole.

The helmet may be provided with a plurality of ear holes, each havingrelated surfaces as in accordance with the above.

According to a feature ofthe invention, each ear hole may be internallycovered with a thin porous film which may, according to still a furtherfeature of the invention, comprise a fabric covering.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIG. 1 is an elevational side view ofahelmet according to this invention,

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional side view taken along line Illl inFIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of a porous thin film portion thereof,and

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating air flow on the outside of-a hearingopening thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION When a person wearing a helmet body 1 havingportions 2 each provided with a hearing opening 3 moves through the airon a vehicle such as a motorcycle or the like, a whistling sound may begenerated at the hearing opening 3. The invention is characterized inthat sound opening 3 made through a tab portion 2 on each side of mainhelmet body 1 is provided with an outwardly spread inclined surface 4 ofnearly conical form along the entire periphery or at least partially inthe front and read directions of the outer edge portion thereof.Further, a porous thin film 5, for example, a thin film comprising aspongy rubber piece 6 and a nylon fabric 7 which is pasted thereon isitself pasted on the inner surface of the sound opening 3 to close thesame.

In an illustrated embodiment, there is separately prepared a hearingpiece 8 in the form ofa piece of rubber or the like in which is providedhearing openings and the whole periphery or outer edge of the opening ismade to have inclined surfaces of nearly conical form. Piece 8 isadhered or attached to the corresponding tab 2 so as to be integraltherewith. Thus the formation of the conical form or inclination becomesearier than in the case where such working is applied directly to themain helmet body 1.

Section 9 is a foamed styrol material affixed to the inner surface ofthe main helmet body 1 and the tab portion 2. Elements 10 are cushionsof rubber or the like and element 11 is a vinyl sheet mounted on theinterior of the shell formed by helmet body 1 and tab portions 2.

The illustrated helmet is of the type wherein the main helmet body 1 andthe tab portion 2 are integrally formed but the invention is applicablealso to a helmet of the type wherein the tab portion is divided from themain helmet body 1.

According to this invention, owing to the fact that the outside edge 4of the hearing opening 3 is arranged to have a nearly conicalinclination, when a person wearing the helmet moves along on a vehicle,there is prevented the generation of an eddy flow of air as occurs inthe case of conventional helmets having a sharp edge at that portion.Instead, a gentle air flow is generated as is shown in FIG. 4. At thesame time, owing to the fact that the hearing opening 3 is closed at itsinner surface by the thin porous film 5, the inside air canot be drawnout by a negative pressure. Thus, a whistling sound can be prevented atthat portion. Additionally, the thin porous film 5 is effective forexcluding the entry of any external dust.

There will now be obvious to those skilled in the art many modificationsand variations of the construction set forth hereinabove. Thesemodifications and variations will not depart from the scope of theinvention if defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A helmet comprising a main body, tab portions integral with anddepending from said body and forming therewith a relatively hard andintegral shell having an exterior and interior, each tab portion beingprovided with a plurality ofjuxtaposed openings, hearing pieces ofresilient material each having a plurality of juxtaposed openings, thehearing pieces being mounted on the exterior of the tab portions withthe openings in the hearing pieces aligned with the openings in the tabportions, the hearing pieces being further provided with conicalopenings flaring outwardly from respective of the first said openings inthe hearing pieces, relatively thin porous films on the interior sidesof the tab portions covering the openings in the latter, and an elementon the interior ofthe shell, said films being sandwiched between theshell and said element.

2. A helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said element is a plasticsheet provided with openings corresponding to the openings in the tabportions, comprising resilient cushions between the element and saidshell.

3. A helmet as claimed in claim 2, wherein the films are each ofarubber-like material and a fabric material on the rubber-like material.

1. A helmet comprising a main body, tab portions integral with anddepending from said body and forming therewith a relatively hard andintegral shell having an exterior and interior, each tab portion beingprovided with a plurality of juxtaposed openings, hearing pieces ofresilient material each having a plurality of juxtaposed openings, thehearing pieces being mounted on the exterior of the tab portions withthe openings in the hearing pieces aligned with the openings in the tabportions, the hearing pieces being further provided with conicalopenings flaring outwardly from respective of the first said openings inthe hearing pieces, relatively thin porous films on the interior sidesof the tab portions covering the openings in the latter, and an elementon the interior of the shell, said films being sandwiched between theshell and said element.
 2. A helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidelement is a plastic sheet provided with openings corresponding to theopenings in the tab portions, comprising resilient cushions between theelement and said shell.
 3. A helmet as claimed in claim 2, wherein thefilms are each of a rubber-like material and a fabric material on therubber-like material.